Echeveria plant named ‘OVGRPP’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Echeveria cultivar named ‘OVGRPP’ which is characterized by a flattened globular plant form with greyed-purple foliage, narrowly margined pink and becoming red-purple with maturity, arranged in a basal rosette borne on a short stem. The foliage is moderately pruinose which creates a distinct bluish hue. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘OVGRPP’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2016/2371, filed Sep. 29, 2016, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVGRPP’ is a spontaneous, naturally occurring whole-plantmutation of Echeveria ‘Perle Von Nürnberg’ (not patented) which wasdiscovered by the inventor in April of 2009 at a commercial greenhousein Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The mutation was noted for its thick,robust pink to red foliage by comparison to the thinner, weakergreyed-purple foliage of the parent plant.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘OVGRPP’,by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in September of2009 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Through ten subsequent generations, the unique features ofthis cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVGRPP’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘OVGRPP’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘OVGRPP’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVGRPP’ exhibits a flattened globular plant form with        foliage arranged in a basal rosette which eventually forms a        short, unbranched stem with age; and    -   2. ‘OVGRPP’ exhibits broad spatulate foliage and an apiculate        apex with a slight upwardly curved attitude; and    -   3. ‘OVGRPP’ exhibits moderately pruinose foliage, which gives        the foliage a bluish hue; and    -   4. ‘OVGRPP’ exhibits juvenile foliage with a greyed-purple        general coloration, suffused with red towards the base, and pink        margins, the colors becoming more intense with exposure to        ultraviolet light; and    -   5. ‘OVGRPP’ exhibits mature foliage with a greyed-purple general        coloration and red-purple margins, the colors becoming more        intense with exposure to cooler temperatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘OVGRPP’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.This plant is approximately 5 months old, shown planted in an 11 cmcontainer.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘OVGRPP’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘OVGRPP’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘OVGRPP’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in November of 2016describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 5 months old‘OVGRPP’ plants grown in 11 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria whichconsisted of minimal irrigation, by way of ebb and flow benches, andfertilizer applications. No chemical pest and disease control wereutilized. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade afterpropagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. Nophotoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVGRPP’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVGRPP’ and a comparison with the parent andclosest known comparator, Echeveria ‘Perle Von Nürnberg’, is providedbelow.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—9.4 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 15.3 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Low.        -   Plant vigor.—Low.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 30 days at an approximate temperature of 20            degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 5 months to            produce a marketable plant in a 7 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once            established; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a basal rosettes, eventually            forming a short, unbranched stem with age; no lateral            branching.        -   Quantity of main stems.—1.        -   Main stem dimensions.—6.0 cm long and 1.0 cm in diameter.        -   Internode length.—0.25 cm.        -   Cross section.—Rounded.        -   Aspect.—Nearly vertical.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture and luster.—Glabrous and matte, due to a waxy layer            covering the stem.        -   Color, when developing.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C,            and suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 185D but            lighter; stem covered with a waxy layer colored purple, in            between RHS 76C and 76D.        -   Color of mature stem.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C, and            heavily suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 185D but            lighter; stem covered with a waxy layer colored purple, in            between RHS 76C and 76D.        -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C, and            heavily suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 185D but            lighter; stem covered with a waxy layer colored purple, in            between RHS 76C and 76D.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 24 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves which are spatulate.        -   Dimensions.—7.0 cm long, 3.7 cm wide, and 0.4 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Moderately concave; slightly curved upwards.        -   Attitude.—Very slightly curved upward.        -   Apex.—Short apiculate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated or lobed.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and slightly glossy; moderately            pruinose, colored nearest to a mixture of greyed-purple to            black, RHS N187B and 202B, but appearing as more of a bluish            coloration (no correlating to an RHS color designation).        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and slightly glossy; moderately            pruinose, colored nearest to a mixture of greyed-purple to            black, RHS N187B and 202B, but appearing as more of a bluish            coloration (no correlating to an RHS color designation);            bluish coloration of the abaxial surface is lighter than            that of the adaxial surface.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-purple, in            between RHS N186C and 187A, and suffused with red towards            the base, nearest to RHS 53C; narrowly margined pink,            nearest to RHS 68C. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface —            Greyed-purple, in between RHS N186C and 187A, and suffused            with red towards the base, in between RHS 53B and 53C;            narrowly margined pink, nearest to RHS 68C. Mature foliage,            adaxial surface — Nearest to in between greyed-purple, RHS            N186C, and brown, RHS 200A; fading to greyed-purple towards            the base, nearest to RHS 185A; narrowly margined red-purple,            RHS 67B. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Brown, in between            RHS 200B and 200C, and fading to in between red and            greyed-purple towards the base, RHS 53B and 185A; narrowly            margined red-purple, RHS 67B.        -   Venation.—Pattern — No venation is visible. Color, adaxial            surface — No venation is visible. Color, abaxial surface —            No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVGRPP’ differ from the parent, Echeveria‘Perle Von Nürnberg’ in the following characteristics described in Table1 below.

TABLE 1 ‘Perle Von Characteristic ‘OVGRPP’ Nürnberg’ Plant shape. Moreopen and upright. More compact. General coloration of Moregreyed-purple; Less greyed-purple; the mature foliage. more pruinose.less pruinose. Leaf margin coloration Red-purple. Pink. of the maturefoliage.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVGRPP’ differ from the closest knowncomparator, Echeveria ‘Purple Pearl’ (Community Plant Variety RightsOffice grant number 2008/2720), which is also the closest knowncomparator, in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVGRPP’ ‘Purple Pearl’ General coloration ofGreyed-purple. Purple. the mature foliage. Abundance of pruinose Morepruinose, creating Less pruinose; bluish on the foliage, a deep bluishcoloration, coloration is not as pronounced. General coloration of Olderleaves are less Older leaves are more the aging foliage, suffused withgreen; suffused with green. retaining the bluish coloration.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriaplant named ‘OVGRPP’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.